Oyston hopeful over key men

Karl Oyston is remaining hopeful of Blackpool keeping as many of their squad together as possible.

Last Updated: 15/06/11 1:21pm

Oyston: Still positive about keeping players at Bloomfield Road

Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston is remaining hopeful of keeping as many of Ian Holloway's squad together as possible.

David Vaughan has already left the club following the Seasiders' relegation from the top flight after turning down their final contract offer.

Stephen Crainey, Matt Gilks, Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell have also been linked with exits, but Oyston is remaining positive about the situation, as well as keeping loan stars Jason Puncheon and Luke Varney at Bloomfield Road.

He told the Blackpool Gazette: "Ian thinks it is important to try to keep as many of them together as we can because they've done great things here, and I agree with him.

"So we have gone back to Gilks and Crainey. We've had discussions with both of them, as we did with Vaughan, and made them offers that we hope they won't refuse.

"It is not just them. At the last count there were seven players - Crainey, Gilks, Vaughan, Charlie Adam, DJ Campbell, Puncheon, Varney - that we may lose but we don't want to.

"None of those issues other than David Vaughan have been resolved at this stage, there is nothing concrete on any of the other ones."

No indication

He added that there is no indication on what Crainey and Gilks will do yet.

Oyston added: "As I said with David Vaughan, he has earned the right to get out there and see if he can stay in the Premier League and become an established top-flight player.

"He has earned that right and you cannot begrudge it him one bit. I see no reason why all players won't do that.

"It is not about us. It is about being in the Premier League. It is about being in the best league in the world and playing against the best players.

"Our team has shown beyond any doubt they have that collective ability to get there and then almost stay there.

"So, of course, they are going to get admirers from here, there and everywhere, and all we can do is give them the best offer we can and try to keep ourselves in the loop and try to retain them if we can."